Resources

Faced with a global pandemic, churches around the world are adapting. The response has been incredible as churches have met fear and crisis with innovation and connection. In the midst of the first lockdowns, churches ranging from solo pastors to multi-campus congregations with thousands of members picked up the phone and worked through their rosters from top to bottom. Leadership and volunteers reached out via phone, text, and video to make sure needs were being met. Some referred to these as “COVID Calls,” others, “Wellness Check-Ins.” Social distancing has created challenges in care, and the way forward is not always clear. Pastoral care is changing and is more complex than ever before.

With so many church holding church outside due to Covid-19, having a portable outdoor projector screen is now essential. There are many varities of sizes and costs to meet everyone's needs. Churches can repurpose indoor projectors with the below outdoor screens, but make sure to check the lumens to make sure the output is strong enough for outdoor visibility.

Now that COVID-19 has dramatically limited in-person meetings for some churches and eliminated them altogether for others, live streaming has become the norm, even in more traditional denominations. Worship software, which used to display merely lyrics and scripture to people attending in-person on a screen, is now the backbone of the online or video church service.

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TouchPoint launched in 2008 at Bellevue Baptist Church. Unhappy with the system they were using, they decided to build their own using developers on staff. Over time, other church leaders heard about their software and became interested in it. In 2015, they rebranded as TouchPoint and looked for a buyer to take on this business that the church never intended to start in the first place. The church wanted a company to purchase the software that would serve churches well. In 2017, The Pursuant Group bought TouchPoint Software. Since then, TouchPoint’s user base has tripled in size.

Around late summer, most churches start looking towards Fall and what events to host that time of year. Obviously, 2020 is anything but a typical year. Even planning weekly services is influx based on the spread of COVID-19 in your region. How do you prepare for an event 2-3 months out when you don't even know what next week will bring?

With a different kind of fall looming in front of us thanks to COVID-19, many families, including mine, will be homeschooling or distance learning. All summer I’ve been thinking, “What will the fall be like? What could I do differently if we’re distance learning?” Although our kids are enrolled in California public schools, perhaps this is my opportunity to work in a Bible curriculum before they get started for the day. In the past, I’ve used a short devotional or reformed lectionary guide to get my kids a little scripture with their daily vitamins and orange juice. With less driving hither and yon, it is possible your family might have more time to work in a more robust Bible curriculum. There are multiple online Bible curriculums that have been beefed up during COVID-19 to give us homeschooling newbies a little more confidence. 

Just when you thought the days of the family-sponsored pew were over, COVID-19 has completely changed the way we do church. Now most members are required to reserve their seats in order to attend a church service. In parts of the country where the virus isn't running rampant and indoor events are allowed, most organizations must ensure social distance and 25 or 50 percent capacity per state orders. To do this effectively, churches must use a managed seating software program to make sure they won't have too many people attending their services.